Know the Hodgkin's disease

• April 26, 2024

Hodgkin's lymphoma or also known as Hodgkin's disease is one of two types of lymphoma or cancer of the lymphatic system. Thomas Hodgkin was the first person who published documented studies of the disease therefore, this cancer was named in his honor.

Hodgkin's lymphoma is different from the other class of lymphoma mainly because of the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in cancer cells. These can be seen through an open biopsy. In contrast, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cells are mutations of B cells or T cells.

It has been observed that often the Hodgkin's lymphoma begins to develop in the lymph nodes in the neck. This is very different from non-Hodgkin lymphomas that do so in different places in the body. However, since this is the cancer we are talking about, from the lymph node of the neck to other groups of lymph nodes, the lungs, the spleen and the bone marrow if there is no adequate treatment.

According to studies, Hodgkin's lymphoma is more likely to develop in adolescents, particularly those in the 15 to 24 age range, as well as people over 60 years of age.

To detect them

It can be self-diagnosed by touch, but medical experience is indispensable for a more accurate diagnosis of the disease. The symptoms that have been reported are not that different from the other types of lymphoma. The presence of a painless mass in the lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin, recurrent fever, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and itchy skin are some of the signs.

Common tests include blood tests to check blood cell abnormalities, blood chemistry and abnormal erythrocyte sedimentation rhythm (ESR), x-rays to examine the lymph nodes, CT scan or an MRI of the chest, pelvis and the abdomen to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Other tests that could be used to correctly diagnose and determine the stage of cancer are positron emission tomography (PET), which scans cancer at the cellular level and gallium scanning.

Hodgkin's lymphoma has several subtypes, nodular sclerosis (NS), that affects the lower part of the neck, chest, and clavicle; the predominance of lymphocytes (LP); mixed cellularity (CM), whose lymph nodes usually contain Reed-Sternberg cells and inflammatory cells, lymphocytes depleted (LD) and nodular lymphocytes (NLP).

As they say, knowing is half the battle. Knowing more about Hodgkin's disease is good. You can contribute fully to decision-making if you know exactly what your situation is.

Video Medicine: Hodgkin's lymphoma: What you need to know - Mayo Clinic (April 2024).